Dáil debates

Friday, 3 December 2021

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

Childcare Services

10:10 am

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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14. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the need for a career structure to be put in place for staff in the childcare sector in recognition of their vital work and the value of such work not only to the economy but to the development of children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59202/21]

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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I will follow on from the earlier debate on the career structure to be put in place for staff in the childcare sector in recognition of their vital work and the value of such work, not only to the economy but also to the development of children. Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

I raise this issue from the point of view of the survey that was done which shows the lack of appropriate career structure, insecure employment and high rates of staff turnover. Will the Minister give his views on that please?

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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It is important for service providers to have flexibility in staffing arrangements and in how they structure their organisations. I also believe that a career structure will be necessary to support the further professionalisation of the sector and to make careers in the sector more attractive. Establishing clear and supported career pathways is important in improving the recruitment and retention of staff and in enhancing practitioners' continued professional development, both of which better support outcomes for children. Putting in place a career structure will involve giving clarity on the different roles and services, as well as on the tasks and qualification requirements for those roles. It also will involve identifying and supporting career pathways for individuals to progress their careers within the sector. These are all elements that will form part of the workforce plan that I will publish the next number of weeks.

Work began in 2019 on developing on a workforce plan for the sector. The processes involved extension extensive engagement with sectoral representatives, as well as a public consultation process. The workforce plan will set out actions to achieve related commitments in the First 5 strategy, including: a graduate-led workforce by 2028; development of a career framework; a national infrastructure for continuing professional development; and strengthening leadership development opportunities. I will shortly publish the workforce plan, which has been developed in parallel with the work of the expert group on the funding model. Commitments in the workforce plan are expected to complement the development of the core funding stream that was committed to in budget 2022.

Another element of a career structure is the rates we pay. It is vital to recognise the value of the work, with higher rates of pay for those with greater responsibilities or higher qualifications. While the State is not the employer and I have no power to set wage rates, I have already referred to the process I began last December that has led to the recent establishment of a joint labour committee. With this process now in place and with the backing of the new core funding stream from September 2022, I believe there is a real prospect of improvements in pay rates in this sector. I am looking forward to progressing the expert group and the workforce development plan in the next week or two.

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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I believe that the Minister will agree there is a very high turnover of staff in this area. Has the Department done research on this? What areas has the Department identified? What must we do now to ensure we do not have such high turnover? In his response to me, the Minister referred to people who are highly qualified. They are moving on to other jobs. I have come across people who have qualifications in childcare and who are not going into the sector because it is not attractive to them. It is important, therefore, that we have the proper structure and the proper pay in place. We also need to make sure that there is continuity and people do not feel they must leave because it is no longer a viable proposition for them to stay in the sector. Perhaps the Minister will further outline his Department's knowledge in this area and the research the Department has done.

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Deputy is absolutely right. Just like him, I too have met constituents and young people, primarily young women, who have done the four years of a level 7 or level 8 course, and who then decided not to go into the sector because they did not see that career pathway for them. As the Deputy noted, the issues are primarily pay and conditions. Childcare professionals are not paid enough and the conditions are not adequate. This is why we have such staff turnover. The Deputy asked about research on this. In 2020, the turnover was 18% across the sector, which is very significant. It has an impact on the young people who have done all the study and then do not feel there is a future for them. There is also an impact on the children because they are continuously meeting new childcare professionals in their service. The bond they create, which is very important for the learning element of early learning and care, is not being established. We are very aware of the problems. Pay and conditions are the key elements. The work we are doing with the workforce development plan and funding of the joint labour committee are how we are responding to that.

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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On the joint labour committee, which was set up by the Minister of State, Deputy English, will the Minister update the House on the engagement with that at this stage?

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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We are bringing in a sick pay scheme and it seems many of these workers cannot actually avail of that scheme because they have to sign on, and they do not build up enough time. Will the Minister comment on what are the plans to change that?

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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It is my understanding that childcare professionals will be able to avail of the sick pay scheme on which the Tánaiste is working at the moment. I can certainly touch base with him on that. My Department has been in constant touch with the Tánaiste because we are aware that the lack of sick pay, particularly in light of the current crisis, has been a major issue for the sector. I am happy to touch base further, but that is certainly the assumption we have been working on. While pay is absolutely important, conditions are also really important. Nobody should be coming in sick to work but particularly not childcare professionals given the vulnerability of the children they work with.

The joint labour committee is an independent process. It has been established. I got the ball rolling with the pre-process we engaged in. The Minister of State, Deputy English, has now called sides together through the Labour Court. It is now up to the Labour Court to oversee this process, by bringing together the five union representatives and the five employer representatives. I would urge them all to act quickly because we have made financial provision to deliver this.